Wuthering Heights , by Emily Bronte, is a novel of love, deceit, and revenge. Catherine Earnshaw loves Heathcliff, but marries Edgar Linton instead. The story’s narrator Ellen Dean, a housemaid, describes Catherine as dramatic and manipulative. She believes Catherine uses her emotions as a ploy to get her way. Catherine's husband Edgar would disagree. In his eyes Catherine uses her intellect and emotions to prove a point, but these emotions at times do alarm him. Both Ellen and Edgar believe Catherine is manipulative, but each views her tactics and motives differently.
Ellen Dean knows Catherine extremely well because she has lived with, grown up with, and worked for Catherine since they were both little girls. She has witnessed how Catherine can use her emotions against others, having been both victim and witness to Catherine’s emotional …show more content…
Ellen sees Catherine as manipulative and cunning because she uses her emotions as a method to make others do as she wants. Catherine is an emotional person, often flying into fits of rage, but Ellen believes Catherine understands that her emotions can be used to get what she wants if she uses them correctly. Catherine demonstrates her emotional ploys one night when Edgar Linton comes over. Catherine becomes angry and slaps him. When Edgar begins to leave Catherine puts on her act, “She dropped down on her knees by a chair, and set to weeping in serious earnest. Edgar persevered in his resolution as far as the court; there he lingered” (Bronte 90). Catherine understands that Edgar will feel pity for her if she acts sad, so that is what she does. Ellen tries to warn Edgar, knowing that Catherine is only acting, but does not succeed. Catherine’s
Ellen Dean knows Catherine extremely well because she has lived with, grown up with, and worked for Catherine since they were both little girls. She has witnessed how Catherine can use her emotions against others, having been both victim and witness to Catherine’s emotional …show more content…
Ellen sees Catherine as manipulative and cunning because she uses her emotions as a method to make others do as she wants. Catherine is an emotional person, often flying into fits of rage, but Ellen believes Catherine understands that her emotions can be used to get what she wants if she uses them correctly. Catherine demonstrates her emotional ploys one night when Edgar Linton comes over. Catherine becomes angry and slaps him. When Edgar begins to leave Catherine puts on her act, “She dropped down on her knees by a chair, and set to weeping in serious earnest. Edgar persevered in his resolution as far as the court; there he lingered” (Bronte 90). Catherine understands that Edgar will feel pity for her if she acts sad, so that is what she does. Ellen tries to warn Edgar, knowing that Catherine is only acting, but does not succeed. Catherine’s